Dear Generation Y, specifically those is our twenties. This is for you. This is a daily devotional dedicated to people in their twenties, as we go through life changes and finding our independence. But also finding ourselves in Christ.
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
You ever have one of those specific days where you wake up and you can feel it in your bones. You wake up smiling and singing, and you just know, so you say to yourself, “Today is going to be a great day.” You don’t really know what’s going to happen today but you know that today is going to be great. I love those, because it’s one of those days where you aren’t going to let anything bother you, the things that would usually make you mad or upset don’t have any effect today. You’re walking around like Spider-Man when he finally decided to let loose and put the black costume on (I am in no way telling you to go to the dark side). You get up and dress nice, put an extra little pep in your step because you feel good about today. You just feel motivated to do something. Even when something does try to get in your way you curve it by saying, “Not today Satan, not today.”
These are some of my favorite days because while a huge miracle might not happen these days are always marked in my calendar because something good happens, whether it be spiritual, emotional, physical, whatever it may be. Have you ever noticed that these are the days you are tried the most, I mean the most, when all you want to do is have a good day it like all the forces for ruining your day come at you like the paparazzi comes after Justin Bieber. But the thing about it is, there is so much joy in the Lord that nothing can stop you, nothing can get to you because you’re already covered. You just smile for the cameras and keep it moving. So in the words of Hillsong United, “Tell the devil, no not today.”
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. One day I finally understood this scripture. It is a scripture that I would hear my mom say in church every time she got the chance to speak. Every day is great day because the Lord has given it to us, so even on our worst days we can find comfort in knowing that God decided to wake us up this morning, so let’s enjoy it as much as possible.
Wouldn’t it be great if we woke up everyday with the attitude that today is going to be a great day? If we were motivated and feeling good about ourselves every day of our lives. I truly believe that every day can be great, if we choose for it to be. We won’t wake up everyday saying that today will be a great day, some days we have to make that choice. We have to choose to have a good day even when everything is going wrong. We have to choose not to be bothered and let things roll off our shoulders. God made it, it’s a great day, rejoice and be glad in it.
Response/Prayer Time
Take the time to respond to what we talked about today, pray and talk to God, then go and have a great day!
I love you, have an amazing day, really enjoy your day. Share this with someone and come back tomorrow for Day 184!
You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.
Recently there was a terrorist attack at the venue where Ariana Grande was having her concert. The attack claimed the lives of many people including an eight year old. THe attack was the deadliest UK attack since 2005. It devastated and scared a nation, and was devastating all over the world. However what Ariana Grande did to give back to this country was nothing less than beautiful. Although one performance seemed to take the cake, and that is Justin Bieber’s performance. Where he reassured the people of this country that God is always in the midst. He stood on the stage of a stadium and declared that even in all this havoc and trouble, he won't let go of God. And i quote,
“God is good in the midst of the darkness. God is good in the midst of the evil. God is in the midst, no matter what’s happening in the world. God is in the midst and He loves you. He’s here for you.”
-Justin Bieber
In all the craziness that goes on in the world we should be reminded that God is in the midst. Even when darkness seems to take over, God is the light that breaks it up. There is a hope in Jesus that we must hold on to. We can’t let go of hope because sometimes it’s the only thing getting us out of bed in the morning. I know things are crazy and people are suffering all over the world. One of the most conflicting questions I get is, “If God is so good why do bad things happen?” or “Why are there children starving all over the world.” “Why do bad things happen to good people?” It’s conflicting because sometimes I honestly have the same questions, but I know that God is good I know that even though bad things happen God is in the midst. I know that He has a plan. I know that all the bad in the world is a result of the fall, when sin entered the world through man. With that being said, bad things happen, and they happen to good people. But, whatever happens God is in the midst. I am reminded of Jesus and the disciples and how they suffered for the gospel. How they were martyrs and find hope because there is satisfaction and peace in eternity with Christ. So all we have to do is survive the world all we have to do is thrive here now through the good, bad, and the ugly and eternity will be more peaceful and fulfilling than we could ever imagine. We must have faith in that, and find comfort in knowing that even though the world can be evil and corrupt, we serve a good and incorruptible God.
Response/Prayer Time
Respond however you feel led, and pray through that response. Talk to God about what we discussed today. Take the time to open your heart to Him and talk to Him. As this series comes to a close, pray for the world, pray for humanity and pray for yourself.
I love you and I want you to have an amazing day or evening. Keep me in your prayers and I will pray for you. I love you. Make sure you come back tomorrow for Day 177!
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
Today’s devo is inspired by a very honest and beautiful song. The song is called “Maintain” by Jonathan McReynolds and it speaks about needing God and maintaining this life, and wanting to be where He is. My favorite lyric from this song is, “Yeah you gave me all the weapons but it’s still a fight.” What a profound statement, and how honest it is, that God has given us everything we need to fight the battles we face, but none the less there is still a fight. There are things that we face daily there are battles we have to fight, and they are not the easiest things to go through.
There are a few quick points to make today.
1. As Christians other people and even sometimes ourselves, we forget that we are human.
Meaning we forget that sometimes we will be weak sometimes we will not want to fight, sometimes we will doubt and that is okay, we are human. We wouldn’t be human is we didn’t have these doubts. It is in those doubts that God will show us just how faithful he is, my friend annisstar told me that. I think we often afraid to show our real feelings out of fear that we are sinning by having them. The truth is sometimes life is hard and we would rather not deal with it. Sometimes we just want to walk away, sometimes we get tired. We are human, but it is in these moments that we are reminded exactly who it is we serve. We serve a mighty and magnificent God and He won’t leave or forsake us.
2. We have to fight for what we want.
Some of us have to fight with everything we have, we are fighting day by day just to live, or get up in the morning. We know that God has given us everything we need to fight, we put on the full armour of God, we are equipped with His strength, and reminded of His faithfulness. Yet there is still a fight, we still have to go out and fight. We are fighting for our sanity, our salvation, our relationship with God, our faith. We are fighting everyday to keep our faith. I believe that everyone can agree that sometimes we get tired of fighting, there are moments when we just want to stop. And if I’m being completely honest there are moments when we don’t see the use of fighting anymore. We have faith, and we know God is right there in our corner, hydrating us and strengthening us, but we still have to fight. Even when we’re tired of all the blows, even when we get knocked down we have to get up and keep swinging. We have to fight until we can’t fight anymore and even then God gives us enough strength for one last swing.
Imagine God as our boxing coach, He is our corner, He is strengthening us after every round making sure we are okay to keep fighting. He’s giving us water and healing for the bruises and wounds, and he’s constantly pouring into us. Whenever we open our mouths He’s there with water to hydrate us. The only thing He asks is that we keep fighting. Even when we feel we are losing, keep fighting. Don’t give up, keep those hands up, stand up and fight. Because we are fighting for so much more than a win. We’re fighting for our lives.
Now let me get real honest real quick. We talk a lot about the getting up when we fall, continuing to fight when we’re tired, and continuing even when we don’t have the strength to do so. But what about when we’re on the ground and we don’t want to get up? What about while we’re in the fight, what about our thought process when we are getting tired? There are crazy thoughts we face while we’re in that boxing ring trying to get through another round. We Sometimes getting knocked down takes so long to get up because we are battling on the ground too. It’s easy down there, it’s safe down there, we can escape the pain and the blows. Sometimes we don’t know how to get up. Often we feel like we deserve to be sown there. When we’re knocked down and tired, it sometimes feels like that’s where we need to stay. At times getting up is harder than the fighting itself. But God… God gives us strength, at our weakest points God gives us understanding. God gives us peace. Yes we still have to go through the fight, and as hard as it is, we aren’t going through it alone. God is right there, giving us everything we need making sure we come out with a victory. Victory lies in our King and that we can depend on.
3. We just have to keep the faith.
Easier said than done, huh? I know it’s hard. It is especially hard when it seems like God is taking all the time in the world to get to us. One thing is for sure is that He is on the way to you. He always comes right on time. His timing is perfect.
1 John 5:5
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
We overcome through Christ. At our weakest moments, that is the time to hold on to Christ the most. These are the times to stretch our faith a bit further. To go that extra mile. It’s the moments when we are the weakest that we find God to be the strongest. The moments when we are doubting that we find God to be faithful. God is always there, we just have to have an ounce of faith.
Matthew 17:20
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
All we need is the faith of a mustard seed. Keep the faith, hold on to it, even if you have to fight with everything you have. It’s worth it. God is so faithful.
Reflection/Prayer Time
Today whatever is on your heart pour it out to God. Whatever you need ask God for it. Take the time to pray for yourself, you know what you need. When you are done, take the time to pray for someone else, whoever is on your heart, just lift them up in prayer today.
I love you, I hope you have an amazing day or evening. Share this with someone and come back tomorrow for Day 110!
